Basket Bases
Yesterday, I was working on a set of baskets for my daughter. I love the base on these baskets and it got me to thinking about basket bases. So you know me, I got my camera and wondered around the studio taking pictures. I love the variety in basketry…
This is the set I made for Melody.
It’s a variation of one of my brand new baskets, T Tray. Read more
Weaving Mania
-the 2017 North Carolina Basketmakers Association Convention. Thanks to Katie Lake and all of her volunteers, we all had four wonderful days full of baskets, weaving and visiting. 
I was sad that the weather was NOT spring like, but it was wonderful to see old friends, meet a few new ones and see all the beautiful baskets being used, made and raffled as well as the amazing things in the exhibit room.
Look at all the basket kits
It is pretty amazing how much I can accomplish when I lock myself in the studio for two weeks. 
Kits packed and ready for the North Carolina Convention Read more
Back in the Dye Room
This week I am in the dye room. Last week it was hard to stay inside and cut kits with temperatures in the 70s,
so when it snowed over the weekend I thought I wouldn’t be tempted to head outside. However,
this morning the snow was gone. It was tough – but I stuck to it and headed to the studio. Read more
Mid Winter Get Away
Home from another retreat -the Crossroads Weavers Guild’s 24th Annual Mid Winter Get Away in Okemos, Michigan. I was a little apprehensive about going through Chicago, under Lake Michigan and across Michigan in February – but the weather was amazing. With temperatures in the 60s, it was more like spring!
And the event wonderful. Basket classes and mini classes of all kinds kept the weaving room buzzing from early til late. Meals were catered in and delicious. And the weekend provided lots of opportunities to visit with new friends and old. With everything under one roof, there was no reason to leave the hotel and conference center until the event was over. If you have never attended the Mid Winter Get Away, put it on your bucket list! Read more
Three Rod Arrow Tutorial
Finally – home and time to finish this basket weaving tutorial for the
Three Rod Arrow.
The three rod arrow looks nice in one color or in three colors. If you want your arrows to stack like in the sample below (a bargello pattern), you will need a number of spokes that is divisible by 3 (i.e. 18 spokes, 36 spokes, 48 spokes)
Some weeks …
aren’t what you plan …
I got home from the Texas Basket Weavers Association convention late on January 23rd. It was a great event, but that’s a lot of miles and I was hoping for a quiet eight days at home before heading out again. No such luck. It wasn’t a bad week – just a little crazy. Well, maybe a lot crazy! My short list of ‘must do’ grew and grew and grew. Here’s a peak: Read more
2017 Basketpalooza !!
I am home and sorta unpacked – the Texas Basket Weavers Association 2017 
conference has come and gone. It was a great event a great line up of teachers and a wonderful group of students! As well as, wonderful baskets, both being woven and exhibited. I was honored to have won first place in the professional category – thank you Texas!
My only complaint was that it rained a lot and then when it finally cleared I was to busy to get outside to enjoy it – but hey, it was warmer than Wisconsin! Read more
Annetta’s Basket ABCs
Here goes my ABC of baskets – how many have you made?
A is for Arrows
B is for Braid Obsession
C is for Carats
Weavin’ in Winona with Deb Mather
Weavin’ in Winona with Deb Mather
Crafting was part of life for Deb Mather, who grew up on a farm in northern Illinois, so when her sister invited her to join her at a basket class in 1992, she said yes. After work Deb drove to Morrison, Illinois, a one and a half hour drive away, and made a Primitive style Double Jar Basket. Deb was still pretty excited after the hour drive home – she couldn’t wait to show her husband what she had made. Fred says that one look at her face and he knew he was in trouble!
Well, that was the beginning, basket weaving soon became a part of Deb’s life. For the next two and a half years Deb drove to Morrison to take many basket classes. Her house started to fill with baskets and basket supplies and she started teaching some coworkers how to make baskets.
Read more
Oliebollen – a New Year tradition
Along the same vein as last week, being the child of Dutch immigrant’s meant that New Years the house was full of relatives and we made Oliebollen. Translated that means Oil Ball. I know I know, it doesn’t sound very tasty, but trust me they are. An Oliebollen is basically a donut with fruit in it. Read more
Almond Bars for Christmas
Holiday Happenings
It’s the Christmas Season – so our guild just had it’s annual Christmas party. In addition to delicious food and planning our 2017 calendar, we also returned our traveling baskets to their owners. We always have so much fun with this project. Curious? Check out my post from last year about how the Traveling Basket Project works here. Here’s a peak at some of this year’s baskets: Read more
I love your Beaded Ring Basket. They make wonderful gifts. I am having trouible finding the 5/32″ black ash (FO) for rimming. Any suggestions on where I can go to find this?
Hmm that’s a good question. Try Red Valley Splint.
What is the name of the basket you have on your email post – the diagonal plaited basket with two handles??? Love it.
The basket is called ‘Zoe’ I am weaving it and writing the pattern right now 🙂
I finished the four strand braid basket with beads . A bit of a challenge to figure out, the video was great. Live the way the beads went in. A fun little basket.
Great!! Glad the video helped!
Beautiful baskets! Especially love the miniatures on the trees! Thanks for sharing.
I notice the comment about the 4 strand brad basket with beads. I am looking for a basket pattern that uses beads in the basket. What do you suggest? Thank you for the help.
Shirley, I have one basket that incorporates beading in the weave: Beaded Ring Basket
I also know that Susan Coyle has some beautiful basket patterns with beads. I am not sure if she has a web site, but you may be able to find her patterns on basketpatterns.com
I hope this is a good start for you.
Hi Annette,
I’m making your Twines and Braids pattern, and am in need of more beads for this basket. May I ask where you purchased
them, so I can order more?
Thank you!!!
Betty G